Pellegrini insists Yaya Toure isn't distracted by summer transfer talk

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has stressed that stand-in skipper Yaya Toure is focused on his side's title charge, rather than speculation over his future.

Earlier this week, the Ivorian's ever-vocal agent, Dimitri Seluk, claimed his client was open to leaving Eastlands at the end of the season, but the midfielder's boss is adamant his mind isn't elsewhere.

"Yaya is mentally absolutely involved in this season, and not thinking about his future," Pellegrini told BBC Sport. "I know what Yaya thinks. He wants to continue being the same important player that he has been for this team in other years."

At 32, Toure perhaps doesn't possess as great a threat as he did in his title-winning 20-goal campaign of 2013-14 and earlier, but he remains one of the Premier League's most dangerous propositions when he lopes forward from midfield.

After only being used as a substitute in the 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, Toure is expected to feature from the start at West Ham United on Saturday.